A supermarket has revealed the top products that customers haven't felt the need to panic-buy to get through the coronavirus pandemic.
The global health emergency has led to shops around the world being stripped bare of essential items such as pasta, toilet roll and flour.
But sales of gum and mints have dropped, suggesting that social distancing measures mean shoppers are worrying less about keeping their breath smelling fresh, news.com.au reports.
The Australian supermarket chain Coles says demand for both of these items has fallen since the Government introduced lockdown measures to slow the spread of Covid-19.
However, a spokeswoman says its shops have been doing a healthy trade in items which can ease the boredom of life at home, such as coffee capsules, baking items and hair dye.
“Last month as people prepared for an extended period of isolation, we saw great demand for pantry staples, such as flour, pasta and tinned vegetables,” she said.
“We are now seeing customers move towards products that they can use at home including hair colourants, baking mixes, gift cards for online entertainment, stationery and coffee capsules.
“As customers increasingly work from home we are seeing less demand for packaged salads, while social distancing has led to a downturn in sales of gums and mints, as well as for cinema and restaurant gift cards.”
The grocery chain has now lifted restrictions on items such as fresh milk and meat, which were brought in after mass panic-buying last month as Covid-19 swept across the globe.
But although stock levels of many previously in-demand products are beginning to return to normal, shortages of flour are still being reported.
A rise in home baking has led to a surge in sales, despite Coles limiting customers to two packets of flour per purchase.
